Posted on 08/17/2006 7:44:39 PM PDT by Marius3188
A family today told how they returned from a weekend away to find their house had been trashed by a berserk squirrel.
Retired engineer Alan White, 67, and his wife Janice, 65, came home to find their lounge had been ransacked, causing thousands of pounds of damage.
The couple initially feared burglars had broken into their home in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, but the culprit was found to be a squirrel which had left sooty paw prints all over the room.
Desperate to escape
The trapped rodent had tried chewing through the window frames and tore the curtain and settee to shreds in a desperate bid to escape.
Mr White said he and his wife had been away with grandson Shaun, 13, to the International Balloon Fiesta in Bristol and were greeted by the scene of carnage when they arrived back.
He said: "We came home to the house and entered our lounge. We noticed that the fireguard had been knocked on to the carpet and there were coals on the floor.
"Then we noticed that the wooden window frame had been gnawed extensively - most of it was gone.
"There were pot plants and ornaments strewn across the room and we immediately thought someone had broken in. But my wife pointed out that the doors were still locked."
The couple's son, Shaun, 38, found the lifeless body of the squirrel behind the settee.
Damage
Mr White said: "Once we realised that we looked more carefully for damage and saw the settee, which was quite a nice one, had been ripped and gnawed.
"Of course, the squirrel had been covered in soot falling down the chimney and everything, even the light on the ceiling, had been covered with soot by him.
"The curtains on both sides of the window had been torn to shreds and he had torn a big hole in the carpet."
Mr White said the squirrel had even tried to chew its way through the aluminum frame of the patio doors.
The family are counting their blessings that the lounge doors were closed, preventing the trapped creature from running amok around their entire house.
The couple have been in contact with their insurance firm about the damage, and the lounge will have to be completely redecorated after the squirrel's rampage.
Mr White said he was now thinking about getting a chimney cowl fitted.
Unusual
An RSPCA spokesman said the incident was very unusual.
He said: "We've heard of birds getting into houses but never a squirrel getting down a chimney.
"It's unfortunate for the family - and the squirrel."
I knew someone would post the squirrel and motorcyclist story. That one kills me every time I read it.
LMAO!
For some reason that scene has always stuck in my mind.
Funny stuff!
One of John Cleese's greatest, raving-spit-and-froth performances.....;D
you beat me to it, how did that squirrel get all the way to the UK from Mississippi? lmao
"berserk squirrel" sounds like the name of an especially irritating yet otherwise unnotable punk rock group.
LOL. That is hilarious.
Great story! This is the funniest thread in a long time.
Squirrels go nuts on crack (addicts hide drugs in gardens; our furry friends dig it up)
"The Squirrel Grenade"
I don't care how many times I've read this, I laugh unti I cry!
We don't have squirrels in our yard. The cats keep them out. Somewhere this very minute there at least 8 tailess squirrels counting their blessing that they got away. We have the tails.
Probably couldn't get to water to get a drink.
maybe that is all that is left of the squirrels' that have been et by the cat. (thats all we found after our cat ate them)
Malabar Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura, habitat: India)
They are as big as an average cat.
Bump to the top...
...and a nomination for Best Post of the Day!
Cheers!
'They tend to more aggressive than the British squirrel(red). However, I understand that the Brit squirrel can drink more and is alot better in soccer(football).'
And the British native red squirrel would be too polite to mess up someones house!
Welfare squirrel.
"all that is left of the squirrels"
Nope they didn't eat them, there were no hairballs! They always have hairballs after they eat mice. And we've watched them give chase and the tail is all they can get ahold of!
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